WWE: What Is the Plan for Chris Jericho?

Sick of it yet?

For the past three weeks, WWE’s prodigal son Chris Jericho has been capping off his much-hyped comeback to the company by hitting the ring to a loud ovation from fans.

Then, he just sort of leaves.

Not a word spoken.  Nothing.  The mic is in his hand, but nothing is being said.  

So, one more time.  Are you sick of it yet?

I have to say, strictly from the standpoint of a guy who has written storylines in the past, I am digging what I’m seeing.

Nothing brings the crowd back like a little mystery.  The key is to give the fans something small to begin with, just a taste of what’s to come.

 If you play your cards right, and everything falls into place, then after weeks of building up, the payoff comes and it could mean big business for the promotion.

That’s what is happening with Jericho, who as a veteran of 22 years, knows precisely how the game is played, and understands how to do business.  

He’s also in a great spot where he can come and go at his own discretion, and has input on what happens when he comes back.

He can pick and choose his moments, and because of that, he would not want to waste his time, or the fans’ time, on a angle that is just not going anywhere.

It makes sense.  And, it will likely be hugely successful, when it eventually plays itself out.  

Besides, if there is one WWE Superstar that we should trust at this point, it’s got to be Jericho, who has proven that he does indeed have a great mind for the sport and how it’s supposed to work.

These are all things that I tell myself as I watch Raw and begin to hear the boos from the audience.  Is it a big deal that the crowd is beginning to sour on Y2J?  Perhaps.  But, perhaps that’s what they’re supposed to do.

The fact is, whenever a WWE Superstar returns after an extended hiatus, he is almost guaranteed a pretty impressive pop from fans.  

This is especially true in the case of Chris Jericho, who is very respected for his years in the business, and has consistently been a favorite among fans all over the world.

So, when Jericho returned after 15 months, we all expected the WWE faithful to give him a huge ovation, and we were not disappointed.

Funny how time changes things and tends to make us forget.  After all, the last time we saw him, Y2J was doing everything in his power to make us hate him.  

He was the top heel in the company, having arguably the single best run of his entire career.  For a heel to get the welcome that Chris did is a big deal.

But, let’s be honest.  For the most part, we all understand the deal when it comes to heel and babyface.  We’re in on the routine, and when fans booed him during his last run, they did so with a wink, just happy to go along for the ride, and do what was expected of them.

A guy cannot be successful without the crowd response, and fans willing to work along with them.

Chris got that, and much more, the last time he was there.  And, it was those same fans that supposedly hated him, that took him back with open arms.

So, what do you do when you have a worker who had such a great heel run, and could most likely pick up where he left off?  Easy.  You make fans hate him all over again.

I believe it has become pretty apparent what the reasoning for Jericho’s behavior has been since his return, and for me, it’s nothing short of brilliant.  Again, there’s nothing like building the suspense week after week until you lead the crowd where you want them to be.

And, the majority of fans want to be center stage when Chris takes on CM Punk at WrestleMania for the WWE Championship.

That has been the one constant rumor, the one assumption, that has been repeated for so long now that it seems almost like a forgone conclusion.  After all, Punk deserves a great opponent to work on the grandest stage of them all, considering the year that he has had.

Unfortunately, the man who has been teased in the past as being that great opponent, Stone Cold Steve Austin, is not likely going to be the one stepping up to the plate.

So, if that opponent can’t be Austin, then it may as well be Chris Jericho, whose gimmick as the ‘best in the world at what he does’ fits quite nicely against Punk’s claim to be the best in the world.

Now, having said all of that, I will say this.  I’m ready.  If this storyline is going to happen, then I want to see it.  Two of the best in WWE squaring off at WrestleMania with the full intention of bringing the house down, with the title up for grabs.

I’m in.  Let’s do this.

I know what you’re thinking.  Be patient, Tom.  It will happen in time.  Yeah, I know, I’m the guy who said that already.

But, still.  Jericho vs. Punk?  Don’t make us wait too long, guys.  Primed and ready over here.